Combined variable resistance and switch for use with radio receivers



Jan. 9, 1940. E. R. STOEKLE 6.

COMBINED VARIABLE RES ISTANCE AND SWITCH FOR USE WITH RADIO RECEIVERS '5 Fig.5.

INVENTOR. M W

BY 6% I W ATTORNEY) E. R. STOEKLE Jan. 9,, 1940.

comamnn VARIABLE masxsnncs AND swn'cn FOR USE WITH mmo RECEIVERS- Filed April 2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY} INVEN TOR.

77 M M-a 77 M BY I I 1.49%, 25.

III

5m 40- E. R. STOEKLE 2.186.154 COMBINED VARIABLE RESISTANCE AND SWITCH FOR USE WITH RADIO RECEIVERS Filed April 2, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 WWW ATTORNEY;

Patented 'Jan. 9, 1940- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIWBINED VARIABLE, RESISTANCE SWITCH FOR CEIVERS AND.

USE WITH RADIO RE- Application 11111112, 1932, Serial No. 602,855

11 Claims. (Cl. 201-55) This invention relates to a combined variable resistance, and switch for use with radio receivers and more particularly to a device of this character designed to simplify the control of such receivers and to blend in with the structure and appearance thereof.

The present application is a continuation in part of my application for combined variable re- I sistance and switch for radio receivers filed April 23, 1931, Serial No. 532,138.

Radio receivers commonly have an on and oil switch operated by a push button or suitable operating element and a volume control usually manipulated by means of a knob or the like.

The present invention proposes to so organize the volume control and on and off switch that a single operating element may be utilized to exercize control over both the on and "off switch and the volume control.

In carrying out the present invention an interlocking arrangement is provided 'between the on and "011 switch and the volume control which, when the volume is turned to minimum or lowest possible volume position, so functions that the radio set is automatically shut oil due to the throwing of the on" and off switch to "oil position, whereas when the volume control is turned up slightly from its lowest or minimum position, then the "on and off switch is automatically thrown to "on" position to energize the radio receiver.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the switch, the volume control and the interlocking means therebetween are mounted on and located within or substantially within the confines of a common enclosure or of the insulating base and cover sections constituting the enclosure to provide a compact unitary assembly and obtain the inter-relation of the devices which produces the desirable automatic operation of the switch.

Another important advantage of this organization resides in the fact that no special support outside of the cover or base is required for the mounting of the switch. Furthermore, the switch may be applied and removed as a unit without disassembling its parts or the parts of the varir.

able resistance or volume control. Finally, ad-

vantages of economy and manufacturing facility are realized.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be herein- .after more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing one embodiment of the invention, the cover section together with the switch being removed to illustrate the volume control or variable resistance;

Figure 2 is a view in section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 but showing the cover section and switch assembled with the insulating base section, and its volume control device;

Figure 3 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, the plane of the section being substantially that of line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 3 is a group view inperspective showinvention, the cover section being removed to 11- lustrate the construction of the volume controlor variable resistance and the switch;

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on line 66 of Figure 5, parts being shown in elevation for the sake of simplicity in illustration;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5; V

Figure 9 is a view in elevation showing another embodiment of the invention, the insulating base section and the parts carried thereby alone being shown for the sake of illustration;

Figure 10 is a view in elevation, with parts broken away for the sake of illustration and i1- lustrating the cover section and the parts carried thereby;

Figure 11 is a view in section taken on line ll-H of Figure 9; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 32-52 of Figure 9.'

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seen that in this embodiment there is provided an enclosure or housing including as its parts or-sections a Bakelite or hard rubber molding insulating base-like section i and a cover section 30.

The base section 6 contains a graphite resistor arms 9, the inner ends of which are integral with a notched hub l disposed between insulating washers II, the latter being held engaged with the notched yoke by means of a flanged ring or bushing l2. Integral with this yoke I0 is a third supporting arm I! which is fastened by a bolt and nut l4 to a conducting strip or binding post I 5 and thereby also secured to the housing section or base IL The flanged bushing I2 is loosely fitted on the inner end of an operating shaft i3 supported for rotation in an externally threaded supporting sleeve II. The inner end of I the sleeve I! extends throughan opening provided in the base I and is formed with a head It coacting with the marginal wall of the opening within the casing and supplementing the action of a nut l3 threaded on the sleeve and engaging base section i for securing the sleeve in position. An operating knob is secured to the outer end of the shaft l8 by means'of a set screw 2|. A disc-like structure 22 is iastenedto the inner end of the shaft 15 and has a radial lug 23 integral therewith and carrying a pressure button 24 which bears against the strip 2 and tends to overcome the inherent resiliency of the strip and place any portion of the strip which the button engages into contact with the resistor 2. The disc-like structure 22 isprovided with an arcuate slot 23, the ends of which constitute movable stops cooperable with a fixed stop 25 for limiting the movement of the disc-like structure in either direction. The fixed stop 25 may be in the form of an angular bracket, a portion of which is apertured, encircles the sleeve l1 and is confined between the housing or base section I and the nut l9.

The volume control device just described is connected in well-known manner in one of the volume control circuits of the radio receiver, the

binding posts 'I-and i5'being utilized to eflect this connection As shown, theflange of the cover section telescopes over the open end of the base section I and suitable fastening means may be provided for releasably securing these parts of the housing or enclosure assembled. One portion of the cover is pressed outwardly slightly and apertured as indicated at 3| and through the aperture of this portion a connecting sleeve 32 extends. Nuts 33 coact with this sleeve and with the portion 3| to secure the sleeve in position. The outer end of the sleeve is interconnected with a metallic casing member 34 of a toggle switch designated generally at 35. Insulating laminations 31 are confined between and secured to this casing 34 and certain of these laminations are appropriately cut out or recessed to house the operating parts of the switch, as will appear from the drawings:

The switch 35 has fixed contact members 3! conflned'between or in recesses provided therefor in certain of the insulating laminations and a cooperable roller contact 33. The roller contact 39 is supported at one end of one of the toggle links 40 and its support consists of a mounting piece 4 i of hard rubber or molded insulating material. The link consists of two spaced strips abutment 44 is socketed-as at .45 and receives the rounded end 48 of the other toggle'member 41.

The toggle member 47 may be one arm of the switch operating lever 48 iulcrumed on the sleeve 32 as indicated at 49 and provided with a second arm 53 formed with a yoked or notched end '5].

Integral with the lug 23 of the volume control device is a projection or lug 55 which is designed for coaction with the notched or yoked end 5| of r the switch operating lever 48. In the assembly the parts are so arranged that as the volume control is moved up from-its extreme low position its lug or projection 55 engages and coacts with the notched or yoked end 5| of the switch operating lever 48 to swing the switch lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. This causes the spring abutment and connector to slide down thelink members 40 and also change the angular relation between the toggle member 41 and the link members 40 at the same time. Finally, the parts pass what may be called deadcenter position, that is, the position in which the spring acts not to hold the roller 39 in the p0sition shown in Figure 3 but to throw it with a snap action downwardly in said figure and until this roller contact engages and is in electrical bridging relation to the fixed contact members 38. The

switch is then on and this condition obtains without further interaction between the volume control device and the switch throughout the entire range of the volume control. However, when the volume control is shifted back to its extreme low position, the lug again coacts with the notched end 5| oi the lever 48 to reversely operate the switch and throw it to its off1 position. To insure easy assembly of the cover. with the switch thereon-and the insulating base with the volume control therein and this with the notched end 5| in proper relation to the lug '55, a centering aperture 80 is provided-in the cover section and is designed to receive a centering projection properly positioned on and extending from the insulating base section.

In the form of the invention shown in- Figures 5 to 8, an insulating'housing section is designated at 8| and has an integral peripheral extension Bl. The main portion of the base houses the volume control and the extension 6i houses the snap action toggle switch, the enclosure or housing of the control and switch being completed by the coaction of a cover section 62 with the housing section 6|. The volume control is identical with that previously described in that it consists of 'a carbonaceous or graphite resistor 2, conducting strip 8, disc-likearrangement 22, pressure button 24, and the other elements of the variable resistance or volume control previously described. The snap action toggle switch is, however, slightly different in its structure and in its relation to the variable resistance, and hence the form of the interlocking means is slightly varied.

The snap action toggle switch includes a movable contact adapted in the closed position of the switch to bridge fixed contacts 56. Screw and nut 65 secures contact 65 to the bottom por-. tion of a U-shaped toggle link 61 and washers 85' electrically insulate the contact 55 from the link 61. The ends of the legs of the link 51 are pivoted as at 63 to the ears 59 of a slotted mounting strip Hi. The strip I0 is received in slots H provided therefor in opposed portions of the casing or insulating base. A spring I2 is located between the legs of the U-shaped toggle link 61 and has one end bearing against the head of the screw of screw and nut 65'. The other end of the spring is connected to the other link '14 of the toggle, which link 14 may be constituted by one Ell arm of a lever designated generally at I5 and also i'ulcrumed on the pivot pin 80. The other arm of this lever I5 is notched as at 16 so as to be adapted to be engaged and operated by a correspondingly formed projection I1 provided on the lug 23 of the volume control device.

With thisconstruction as with the other embodiment, when the volume control device is turned up from its extreme low position the projection or lug I'l wipes against one of the side walls of the notch of the switch operating lever and swings this lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. As this action progresses the spring H is compressed and its angular relation to link 61 is eventually reversed so that it moves the link 51 with a quick snap action from the position shown in Figure 5 to a position wherein the contact 65 bridges the contacts 56 and thus energizes the receiver. This condition obtains throughout the entire range of resistance values. that is, throughout various adjustments of the volume control device. When, however, the volume control device is turned down to its extr me low position the projection I! again coacts with the notched end of the lever toreturn the lever to the position shown in Figure 5 wherein the switch is in of! position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive. the enclosure for the volume control dev ce and on and 011" switch consists of a molded housing section rabbeted around its open end to receive a cover section 9i having a sheet of insulating material 92 on its inner face. The housing 90 has an integral enlargement as in its main portion, the enlargement 93 extending axially therefrom instead of peripherally therefrom as in the embodiment shown in'Figures 5 to 8 and defining a cavity or recess 93. In the cavity or recess 93' provided by this enlargement the "on and "ofi switch desi nated generally at 94 is accommodated whereas the volume control device is accommodated in the main compartment 95 of the enclosure.

The volume control device is identical with that incorporated in the other embodiments of the invention except for the mounting of the operating shaft and the specific form and manner of supporting the conductor strip. As in the previous embodiments th s volume control includes the graphite resistor 2 secured to a surface of the houslngby means of the fasteners B which connect the ends of the resistor with the binding posts '5. The conducting strip is of slightly difierent design and is designated at 8'. It is of the same arcuate form and has two integral supporting arms 9' which merge into a main supporting arm I3. This main sup orting arm I3 has a substantial portion thereof snu ly fitted in a seat or recess 98 and it is held in said recess and a ainst movement by means of a bolt and nut It which not only exerts this securing act on but which electrically connects the conductor strip with the binding post I5. The conductor strip 8' is, as before, biased by virtue of'its inherent resiliency away from and out of contact with the I I6 and the ends or the slot coact with a fixed stop IT to limit the movement or adjustment of the disc 22 in either direction. The disc 22' is supported and adjusted by means of an operating shait 8'! which has its inner end riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the center oi the disc and which is supported for rotation in a supporting sleeve 90 suitably secured to an aperture in the cover section 9 I. The shaft 91 is held against axial movement by the engagement of the disc 22' with one end of the sleeve and by the engagement of a ring-like retaining wire 99 with the other end of the sleeve, the wire 95 being partially received in annular groove in the periphery of the shaft. An operating knob I 00 is connected to the outer end of the shaft.

The on and off switch which is disposed in the recess 93' of the enlargement 93 includes a pair of fixed contacts IM and M2 (see Fig. 12) which are electrically connected with binding posts I03 and 104. These fixed contacts are electrically insulated from each other but may be bridged and electrically connected by the movable contact assembly of the switch. Themovable contact assembly consists of toggle links I05 and I06. The toggle member lfiliis pivotally mounted on and directly electrically connected with contact I02. The toggle member I05 has an outturned lug I!" which extends through a bushing I03 carried by the toggle member Hit and serving to aid in the mechanical pivoting of the parts ME and I06, and in establishing an electrical connection between them. This bushing tilt has the further function of securing inposition an interlocking member IIIi which is also pivotally mounted on the contact I02. In between the base of the cavity 93' and the toggle member I05 is a spacing collar l I I. This spacing collar prop erly positions the toggle members in the cavity and also provides means for anchoring, one end of a retractile coil spring H2. The other end of this spring Ii! is connected to a lug H3 integral with the toggle member ltd. The interlocking member i It) is provided with spaced projections.

' 10w position, the pin I it moves and wipes against one of the projections l M to swing the interlocking member ilii and consequently also the toggle link M5 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 9. Such movement of the link I06 shifts the pivotal connection between this link and the link I05 until the pivotal connection crosses the line along which the spring M2 is exerting its pull. This reverses the action of the spring and causes it to swing the link No forcibly with a snap action in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 9 and into engagement with the fixed contact me. The switch is then on and the receiver energized. This condition obtains without further inter-action of the interlocking members between the volume and the switch throughout the entire range of adjustments of the volume control and vuntil the volume control is returned to its extreme low position. Returning of the volume control to extreme low position causes the pin H5 and interlocking member IIO to reversely coact and swing the switch with a snap action to off position.

In all embodiments of the invention the radio volume control device is connected in well known manner in one or more of the volume control circuits of the radio receiver and the switch is (iii connected in well known manner in the power input circuit of the receiver and in all forms, there is had the advantage or controlling the "on and bi? switch and the variable resistance of the volume control device from a single operating knob and not only this but the switch and resistance are compactly mounted and organized. A part of the housing for the resistor affords a mounting for the switch and either directly or through slight extensions provides the enclosure for the switch.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the constructions illustrated have been taken for the sake of illustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A unitary self-contained switch and variable resistance assembly comprising a housing made up of releasably connected sections defining a main chamber, a wall of one of said sections having a recess, a switch mounted in said recess, a variable resistance mounted in said chamber and having an adjustable element, means operable from the exterior and extending into the housing and connected to said adjustable element for adjusting the same, said switch being of the spring toggle snap action type and having an operating element formed with spaced projections, and a cooperable projection moved with the adjustable element of the resistance and cooperable with the spaced projections of the operating element to close the switch when the adjustable element is moved from its initial position and to open the switch when the adjustable element is moved back to its initial position.

2. A device of the character described comprising a housing including releasably connected sections defining a main chamber within the housing, one of said sections having an extension defining a cavity adjacent the main chamber, a variable resistance mounted in said main chamber, means operable from the exterior of the housing and extending through one of the sections thereof and connected to the variable resistance for adjusting the same, a switching device mounted in the cavity and intererigaging elements between the switching deviceand the variable resistance whereby adjustment of the resistance in a predetermined manner will eflect operation of the switch. e t 3. A device of the character described comprising a base section, a variable resistance mounted on the base section and having a movable element, a' cover section coacting with the base section to enclose the resistance and having an opening therethrough, and a switch mounted on the cover section and overlying said opening and having an operating member extending through said opening and cooperable with the movable element of the resistance whereby actuation of the. variable resistance to one position closes the switch and to another position opens the switch. 4. A device of the character described for use in radio receivers and comprising a base section, a volume control device mounted on the base section, a cover section interengageable with the base section and coacting with the base section to enclose the volume control device, an on and off switch mounted on and enclosed by the cover section, said cover section and switch being attachable as a unit to the base section, and

cooperating parts mounted on the control device and switch which are brought into operative relation to each other by the mere assembly of the cover section with the base section, said cooperating parts being engageable to automatically throw the switch to on position when the volume control device is moved up from its low position and being engageable to automatically throw the switch to "off position when the volume control device is moved back to low position.

5. In combination, a volume control comprising a circular resistance, a contact arm for varying said resistance, a rotatable actuator shaft on which said contact arm is mounted, a projecting pin eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a casing enclosing said volume control, an aperture in saidcasing, an auxiliary recessed casing closing said aperture, a snap-switch contained in said auxiliary casing, and an actuating arm for said snap switch operable by said projecting pin at one extreme 01' its cycle.

6. In combination, a volume control comprising an electrical resistance, a member arcuately mov able throughout a relatively wide range for varying said resistance, an eccentrically mounted projecting element upon said member, an insulating base, a snap switch mechanism carried thereby, a metal cover member for said resistance varying device to which said insulating base is secured, said cover member having an opening formed therein to provide clearance for said switch mechanism, said projecting element having a transient lost motion connection with said switch echanism to provide for actuation of the latter to open-and/or closed-circuit position during movement of said movable member in reverse directions, respectively, through a relatively small portion of its range.

7. In combination, a volume control comprising a circular resistance, a' contact arm disposed on one side of the plane of said resistance for varying the same, arotatable actuator shaft on which said contactarm is mounted, a pin eccentrically mounted onsaid shaft, a casing enclosing said volume control, said casing being provided-with a recessed extension on theother side of the plane of said resistance, a switch contained in said extension, and an actuating member for said switch operable by said pin.

8. In combination, a volume control comprising a circular resistance, a contact arm for varying said resistance, a rotatable actuator shaft on which said contact arm is mounted, a projection eccentrically mounted on said shaft, a casing enclosing said volume control, said casing having a communicating peripheral recessed extension 8. switch contained in said extension, and an actuating arm for said switch operable by said projection. I

9. In a volume control and switch assembly, in combination, a sub-assembly comprising a resistor, wiring terminals therefor, an adjustable control element for said resistor and a supporting base for said resistor, terminals and control element, a sub-assembly comprising a switch, wiring terminals therefor and a supporting base for said switch and terminals, an actuating member having operative connections with both said control element and said switch, the connection between the actuating member and switch being of a transient character, and a built-up housing including the bases of said sub-assemblies to support and fully enclose said resistor, its said control element, said switch and said operative con, nections, said actuating member and said wiring terminals extending outside of said housing, the parts constituting said built-up housing being secured together by means independent of the mounting means for said assembly. 10. The combination with an electrical resistance varyingdevice having a member rotatable to opposite extreme positions, of a projecting element mounted eccentrically upon said member, a metallic cover member for said resistance varying device, said cover member having an opening formed therein, a recessed insulating base member adapted to overlie said opening and rigidly secured to said cover member, and a snap switch mechanism carried within said base member and enclosed thereby, said switch mechanism including an. actuating element with which said projecting element has transient driving engagement in difierent positions of said rotatable member whereby operation of said switch mechanism is 26 efiected.

11. The combination with an electrical resistance varying device having a member arcuately movable throughoutia relatively wide range, of an eccentrically mounted projecting element upon said member, a recessed insulating base, a snap switch mechanism carried within said base, a metal cover member for said resistance varying device to which said insulating base is secured at a plurality of spaced points on the former, said cover member having an opening formed therein to provide clearance for said switch mechanism, said projecting element having a transient lost motion connection with said switch mechanism to provide for actuation of the latter to open-and/or closed-circuit position during movement of said movable member in reverse directions, respectively, through a relatively small portion of its range.

ERWIN R. STOEKLE. 

